Bayview Ave. landlord Danielle Goldstein says the City’s move to mass induct hundreds of low-rise commercial buildings on streets like Bayview and Mt. Pleasant Rd. into the heritage registry is like confiscation of the buildings. She raises the question asked by many about the surprise decision to name 258 such storefronts: is this about historic places or City-wide plans to slow development? The low-rise nature of many neighborhoods, like South Bayview, is highly valued by many. They think of municipalities like Paris and Athens, where “skyscraper” is a dirty word. Saturday, CBC writer David Rieti has comments both from Goldstein and Josh Matlow (Ward 22) who is well known for his concern about the destruction — sometimes tricky demolitions — of historic buildings and the impact of tower development on residential areas nearby. Kristen Wong-Tam (Ward 27) has called for a development moratorium after what think is an infamous explosion of glass towers downtown. CBC
